Georgia Senator Zell Miller warns of possible Pickering Payback

Reuters | March 15 | J.Q. Pulic

[xmarksthespot]

Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi called the committee action "a slap" at his home state. And Miller, who has frequently broken ranks with Democrats on Capitol Hill, suggested on Friday the sting may be felt across the South.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism."

Leahy said his job is to help determine if nominees are "qualified or not." In opposing Pickering, Leahy said during 12 years on the federal bench, the judge often put his own beliefs above the law.

Miller said he was "very disappointment" by the defeat of Pickering, calling him a "good and brave man," and warned of possible repercussions.

"This action may very well elect a Republican governor in Mississippi and it will certainly make it even more difficult for Democratic candidates to be successful in the South," Miller said in a statement

[kylaka]

There's only a hairs difference between wishing for it and praying for it... which wouldn't be right. I'd rather pray that Jeffords gets his due, which would be a basement office in the Hart Senate Building, an early retirement and replacement with a conservative republican, and possible internment in history alongside Benedict Arnold upon his death.

[RickyJ]

Can anyone tell me why enormous pressure is not being put on Senator Miller to "come home" to the Republican party and return the Senate to the Republicans and the American people.

Zell is hardcore democrat. He will say whatever needs to be said to get reelected. It's a mistake to ever trust him, after all Bill Clinton is a good friend of his.

[RickyJ]

FYI, Miller was never elected to the Senate. He was appointed after Republican Paul Coverdale mysteriously died.

[davidosborne]

FORCE them to vote, knowing that AMERICA is watching.. so often we let them get away with things because they are counting on the fact that so many Americans THINK they are wasting their time...

We MUST not give up on this.... Keep the pressure on YOUR Senators to bring this vote to the FLOOR for a vote by the FULL senate !!!

DO NOT allow Sen. Leheay and his fellow LIBERALS on the Judiciary Committee to prevent this vote from going to the floor!!!

Advise and consent means 100 Senators not 10 !!!

Sign PETITION to SUPPORT Judge Pickering...

CLICK here for "Mail Blaster" .. E-mail ALL U.S. Senators/Congressmen, and a variety of NEWS organizations in a single easy step..

Let them know that Judge Pickering deserves a vote of the FULL Senate UP or DOWN by ALL 100 Senators...!

Then PRINT the entire Petition and FAX it to YOUR 2 Senators !!

[Emily RN]

I think Zell has much sympathy for the GOP side, but he also seems to have the integrity to "stay with the one who brung you". I would respect him greatly if he changed parties before he ran for re-election. That's the time to do it. I like the idea of respectable GOPers much more than I like the idea of just more of them.

You know, Zell Miller doesn't really have a loyalty to the vote of the people in his state at this point. The truth is Paul Coverdell(R) was elected by the voters. Zell was appointed by the governor; the only one who "brung him" was the governor.

[monkeyshine]

The next question is: will he be appointed during the coming recess? I sure hope so.

Well frankly, it would be a bad political move.

The best thing he can do is find about a dozen staunch conservative judges and nominate them for the empty slots available. These 10 Senators will either have to deny them all, or refuse to hold hearings.

Bush can then go on the offensive.
"These 10 Democrats are holding the justice system hostage".
"These 10 mean spirited Democrats are denying the right of 90 other Senators their responsibility to the Americna people"
"Every day that these 10 Democrats refuse to hold hearings on the Judgeships, is another day where average Americans are denied their civil rights".

[monkeyshine]

You know, Zell Miller doesn't really have a loyalty to the vote of the people in his state at this point. The truth is Paul Coverdell(R) was elected by the voters. Zell was appointed by the governor; the only one who "brung him" was the governor.

If that's true, then it's the perfect political cover to switch parties. He would only be honoring the will of the voters. It would STRENGHTEN his hand for re-election in the state, since he could position it favorably.

Of course, that means that since he hasn't made the switch, he probably doesn't want to.

[monkeyshine]

In fact he should send up 96 more conservative judges all at once.

Exactly! He should send waves and waves of judges up to the Senate. And then demagogue the crap out of the Senate for stalling. "The American people deserve Justice. These 10 democrats are denying 90 other Senators the opportunity to exercize their responsibility to the American people, and denying the American people their civil rights."

[SoCar]

Zell Miller was appointed to Coverdell's seat in the Senate, but then he did win an election on his own in 2000 against Pubbie Mattingly? (not sure about his name). Anyway, today I called Miller's office to complain about the Pickering fiasco. The guy on the phone was VERY sympathetic and agreed with every thing I said. When I mentioned Zell should switch parties, I got a encouraging response. Keep calling Zell's office and let them know you think he should switch.

[Young Rhino]

Trent Lott's harsh response to the Dems will probably be to cancel Friday date night with Barney Frank.

[davidosborne]

FORCE them to vote, knowing that AMERICA is watching.. so often we let them get away with things because they are counting on the fact that so many Americans THINK they are wasting their time...

We MUST not give up on this.... Keep the pressure on YOUR Senators to bring this vote to the FLOOR for a vote by the FULL senate !!!

DO NOT allow Sen. Leheay and his fellow LIBERALS on the Judiciary Committee to prevent this vote from going to the floor!!!

Advise and consent means 100 Senators not 10 !!!

Sign PETITION to SUPPORT Judge Pickering...

CLICK here for "Mail Blaster" .. E-mail ALL U.S. Senators/Congressmen, and a variety of NEWS organizations in a single easy step..

Let them know that Judge Pickering deserves a vote of the FULL Senate UP or DOWN by ALL 100 Senators...!

Then PRINT the entire Petition and FAX it to YOUR 2 Senators !!

[LinnieBeth]

Senator Miller committed a fraud upon the people of Georgia: he ran as a Democrat and then, after assuming his office, changed to Independent, although he often votes with the Republicans. (If he was a real mensch, he would have resigned and then run again.)

I just finished writing to Mr. Miller, I'm a Georgian and I'm proud of him.
He IS an old-time Georgia Democrat, which is NOTHING like the NY or Vermont democrats.
Forget him changing parties, let's pray he doesn't change his values, at least he can lend some democratic support for some things.

[RightOnline]

"Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism.""

ROFLMAO.................oh man.........that's rich.............stop it, Patrick; yer killin' me here...........................

[Brilliant]

Payback is a lot of fun!

[cricket]

The real responsibility for this travesty is with the people of Vermont. . .

Seems we have two America's. . .maybe it is time to draw up new boundaries. . .

[elwoodp]

The GOPers had darn well better make the deomcraps pay heavily for this outrage. And it better not be a simple tit for tat. They need to need to begin practicing a SOP of Overwhelming Overkill, targeting every demoncrap sacred cow and slaughtering them through slow and painful evisceration. then, and only then, will the demons understand that they are playing a game they can no longer win.

Unfortunately, even the thought of such take-no-prisoners, give-no-quarter politics is enough to make trent less throw up in his purse.

[MeekOneGOP]

Can anyone tell me why enormous pressure is not being put on Senator Miller to "come home" to the Republican party and return the Senate to the Republicans and the American people.

You think it hasn't been discussed with him? Well it has,
especially after Jeffords defected/traitored the Senate.
He wouldn't change over. . . . .

Jim Jeffords:
RINO OF THE YEAR 2001

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]

Little Tommy Daschle's
Skool Picture! !